The Dirt Road Band - Birmingham

 

The Dirt Road Band - Birmingham

by Pete Clemons

Time is of the essence rues the hackneyed quotation, and no matter how conceptions of it may change, in rock music, it still remains true that the person who lays it down is, or should be, the heart and soul of the group whatever its size.

So when Horace Panter quipped, during a guitar changeover, that it's great to be here, but at our age it's great to be anywhere, that old phrase suddenly felt all the more poignant.

The Dirt Road Band have been a good stylish band for getting on for a decade now. But I don't think I have ever seen them perform as well as they are doing during there current round of gigs.

Given the combined experience of the band members, Ted Duggan - drums, Steve Walwyn – guitars/vocals and Horace Panter – bass/vocals/ad libs, it is difficult to find any meaningful superlatives. As such it sounds strange to say that these guys are at top of their game. But it really is true.

A typical gig is sprinkled with takes of classics such as 'Laundromat', 'Tulane', 'Further on up the Road' and the showstopping version of 'Rolling and Tumbling'. Every song was projected with the right amount of meaning and without wringing them dry. Every effect, held note and ending was carried off with conviction and precision.

As this particular gig was in Birmingham another tip of the hat towards Steve Gibbons was made by way of Bob Dylan's 'Watching the River Flow'.

The Dirt Road Band also showcased some new tunes. 'Cutting Room Floor' was one. I honestly thought, as has happened before, that the band had been delving into the box marked 'obscure blues back catalogue' once again. But no genuinely surprisingly to discover that they were songs written by Horace.

I think its fair to say that Horace is not renowned for his songwriting abilities. But here they were for all to hear, and, wow!, they fitted into the equation remarkably well.

A 10 track CD, by The Dirt Road Band, is due to be released soon. And, can I just add that this album is long overdue.

I do have it on good authority that the album is made up of all new songs. None of them covers. And, of the new songs, it is around a 50/50 split between Horace and Steve as to who wrote them. The album also features Bob Jackson on keyboard.

And again, from the same source, the launch of the album is to be held at the legendary 100 club in London.

But back to the Birmingham gig. It was billed as loud and live. It most certainly was. But not uncomfortably loud. It must be so good to play in a club where people genuinely appeared to enjoy the blues. And that was clearly evident at Henry's Blues House on Broad Street.

Final word is from Horace: I think it would be safe to say that we rocked like motherfuckers tonight…........I for one wouldn't argue with that. They were absolutely blistering.